Daily Fantasy Basketball: Top Plays for Thursday, March 27th
By John Hillier
Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
HIGH FIVE/low five
Daily Fantasy can be quite the grind! Let us do the grinding for you with “High Five/Low Five”. Each day, we help put you in the money by presenting you with FIVE of the “top-tier” plays, as well as a quick list of FIVE “value plays”. Los Angeles Clippers’ PF Blake Griffin flies high as Thursday’s top Daily Fantasy Basketball play.
Let’s rip it up.
HIGH FIVE:
Point Guard: Chris Paul, LAC ($9,600): Paul had an off game last night, but should bounce back nicely in what should be a high scoring and fairly competitive game vs. the Dallas Mavericks. Last time out vs. Dallas, Paul had just 19 points and 6 assists, but also only played 21 minutes. With his usual run of 36+ minutes tonight, Paul should have no problem posting a double-double and putting up 40-45 FPs or so.
Damian Lillard, POR ($7,500) and Jeff Teague, ATL ($7,000) could also produce near value when the two square off in Atlanta and provide each other with a plus matchup.
Also of note, Brandon Knight, MIL ($7,200), though difficult to trust in cash games, could be in for a huge game vs. a horrible Los Angles Lakers’ backcourt. Consider him more of a tourney play.
Shooting Guard: James Harden, HOU ($9,400): Harden may be a little hard to trust in this game, given the likelihood of a blowout. However, against the Philadelphia 76ers horrible defense, a player of Harden’s talent should be able to put 35-40 FPs even if he’s limited to three quarters of action. On the other hand, if the 76ers can keep this game close for some reason, Harden’s upside is amazing.
If you’re looking to play it a little safer, Monta Ellis, DAL ($7,400) has topped 30 FPs in each of his last five games and should do so again in a matchup with the Los Angeles Clippers, who have been merely average vs. SGs this season.
Small Forward: Chandler Parsons, HOU ($6,600): Parson’s price is down, and rightfully so, as his production has been erratic of late. Nonetheless, he has been producing right in the 25-35 FP range over his last ten games, with a few games above or below that range. Obviously, he’ll see a plus matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers who rank just 27th vs. SFs over the last 15 days, and dead last on the season. With that sort of matchup, 30 FPs or so should be attainable, with 40+ FP upside, as evidence by his 42.7 FP performance last time out vs. the 76ers.
Also worth a look this evening is DeMarre Carroll, ATL ($5,900) should he get the start at SG again in the event that Kyle Korver were to miss this game.
Power Forward: Blake Griffin, LAC ($10,300): Yes, the price is considerably higher than the other top options at PF, but so is the floor and the potential. The Dallas Mavericks rank just 22nd vs. PFs on the season, and with this game expected to be both close and high scoring, Griffin should score no less than 45 FPs. Few other plays at this position even offer that type of upside, let alone a floor in that range.
If you’re playing tourneys this evening, I love Thaddeus Young, PHI ($8,300) in a high-paced game vs. a Houston Rockets defense that ranks near the bottom of the league vs. PFs both on the season and in recent games.
Center: Dwight Howard, HOU ($8,700): Though I think today is definitely a day when you can (and probably should) go with one of the cheaper value plays at center, I’d be a fool if I didn’t list Howard as my top play. Howard has all the potential in the world to completely destroy the 76ers in this matchup and put up 50 FPs. That said, I think 35-40 FPs seems more likely and is the safe bet, especially considering that in the likelihood of a blowout, Howard will be among the first players to hit the bench, given his recent ailments.
Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
low five:
Point Guard: Ramon Sessions, MIL ($5,700): Sessions has been producing above value over his last five games or so and should be a good bet to get 25-30 FPs again vs. the Los Angeles Lakers in a high scoring game.
Also, I think Jeremy Lin, HOU ($5,000) could be a sneaky play vs. Philadelphia. He usually plays similar minutes as the starter Patrick Beverley, but could see extended run in a blowout and with Beverley battling flu-like symptoms.
Shooting Guard: Xavier Henry, LAL ($4,500)/ Kent Bazemore, LAL ($4,800): Both these Lakers’ wing players could reach value vs. Milwaukee. Of the two, I probably prefer Bazemore.
As always, my boy James Anderson, PHI ($4,900) makes a good value play, especially vs. a Houston Rockets’ defense that has been near the bottom of the league vs. SGs.
Small Forward: Jeff Adrien, MIL ($4,700)/Khris Middleton, MIL ($5,200): Another set of teammates that are both capable of reaching value in a plus matchup. Of the two, I probably prefer Adrien, if only because he’s slightly cheaper and has been playing better lately.
Power Forward: Jordan Hill, LAL ($4,900)/John Henson, MIL ($5,100): Now we go from two sets of teammates to a set of players who will be opposing one another. Value is right around 25 FPs for both these players, and is definitely doable. I probably prefer Henson here, given that he has a history of decent production when starting and has a better matchup.
Center: Zaza Pachulia, MIL ($4,200): Call it crazy, but I think Zaza will produce 20-25 FPs in a plus matchup with the Los Angeles Lakers. That level of production in all you need from a player of his price.
If you don’t have the stones to roster Zaza, there are some nice mid-range plays just above him. Gun to the head, I would rank them in the following order: Henry Sims, PHI ($5,200), Chris Kaman, LAL ($5,200) and Robin Lopez, POR ($5,900).
Thank you and good luck tonight !!!
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